Car-coupling



(No Model.)

E. S. PLIMPTON.

Car Coupling. N0. 230,493. Patented July 27,1880.

. l( ff. i

N/// 'k//M` ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES= PATENT CFFICE..

EDWARD s. PLTMPTON, oF DENIsoN, IOWA.

CAR-COUPLING' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 230,493, dated July 27, 1880.

Application filed May 20, 1880. (No model.) d

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD S. PLIMPTON, of Denison, in the county of Crawford and State of Iowa, have invented a new and use' top portion of the draw-head, so as vto constiscribed, and shown inthe accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a top view of a coupling embodying my iinprovements. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal vertical section. Fig. 3 is a front view, partly in section.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. l

The draw-head A may be of any suitable general construction which will admit of the application of my improvements. As here shown, it is constructed with a view to the employment of three links and pins, the links being the same as those in common use. The two outer links are to be coupled laterally and the central one longitudinally.

The coupling-pin B is curved forward and then downward at its upper end, which is pro! vided with trunnions b'b, forming the pivots 011 which it swings. This curved portion of the pin rests in a recess in the draw-head formed by two lprojecting ribs or niclined planes, D D, which serve as guards to protect the pin from injury by the link of an approaching car incase said link may be raised too high. The pin B works in slots s in the drawhead, the front ends of which slots are in a vertical line with each other.

It will be seen on reference to Fig. 2 that by pivoting the pin at a point considerably forward of the front ends of these slots the pin is allowedv sufficient play for the passage of the link without the necessity for its rising very high. As the end of the 'link of the approaching car enters the mouth of the drawhead it strikes the pin B and causes it to swing backward until its lower end is passed, whereupon the pin again drops to the position shown in Fig. 2.

When the cars are to be uncoupled the pin 'B is raised vertically until two lateral studs, e e, near its lower end, have passed through notches g g in the upper slot, s, and are clear of the slot. The pin is then leaned backward to the position shown in dotted lines, in which position it is held by two lateral studs, ff, lower down than the others, engaging with the inner surface o f the draw-head on either side ofthe slot.

For holding the link in position to enter the mouth of the draw-head of an approaching car, I employ a triangular block, H, pivoted at its highest angle in a` recess in the draw-head and having a flat spring, J, engaging with its base, so as to hold it with one of its angles protruding beyond the edge of the recess and extending slightly into the mouth of the recess. By placing the inner end of the link L under this protruding angle, as shown in Fig. 2, the link is held in such a position as to insure its4 entrance into the approaching draw-head. The spring J allows the block Hto yield if struck y-by the link on its forward side.

The pins for coupling the two outer links may be like the one above described, and arranged to swing transversely, as shown in Fig. 3, or they may be round pins of the usual form, as shown by the letter M.

The pin B may be provided with two branches at its upper end, in which case it may be reversed when necessary. By hanging the pin at a point forward of-its longitudinal center it has a greater rise rearward, and its weight returns it to and holds it in its vertical position.

The pin may be raised by a cord or rod operated from the top of the car, and all three IOO of the pins may be raised at once by having with the lateral studs e and f at its lower end, them suitably connected. whereby it is adapted to be supported, as de- 1o Having thus described my invention, Iolaim scribed.

as new and deslre to secure by Letters Pat- EDWARD SEAGRAVE HAMPTON 5 eut- The combination, with the draw-head A, hav- Witnesses ing its top slotted and provided with notches G. R. KNIGHT,

g, as shown, of the coupling-piu B, provided A. J. BOND. f 

